Did an Oxygen bottle cause the Qantas emergency? This could cause a major review of 747s worldwide.

Here is part of an Sydney Morning Herald article on the subject.

Qantas has been ordered to urgently inspect every oxygen bottle aboard its fleet of 30 Boeing 747s after a mid-air explosion forced a jumbo to make an emergency landing in the Philippines on Friday.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority expects the inspections to begin by tomorrow and be finished within a few days.

CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said Qantas would be asked to check each oxygen container and the brackets holding the containers.

“It will be a visual inspection and it is a precautionary step,” Mr Gibson said.

“The inspection will take a couple of hours for each plane so it will take a few days to do them all.”

CASA is investigating whether an exploding oxygen container was responsible for ripping a jagged hole in the fuselage of flight QF30 from London to Melbourne.

The Boeing 747-400 was cruising at 8800 metres with 346 passengers aboard when it was shaken by the blast.

Major implications for 747s

If the blast was caused by an oxygen container, such a finding would have major implications for 747s around the world, Australia’s aviation safety authority said today.

Passengers aboard Flight QF30 had just been served a meal after a stopover in Hong Kong when they heard a loud bang, then their ears popped as air rushed out of the three-metre hole.

Oxygen masks dropped from some, but not all, of the overhead lockers as the jet descended rapidly and debris flew through the cabin.

The aircraft managed to land safely minutes later at Manila Airport, leaving passengers and crew unhurt but badly shaken.

Four Australian Transport Safety Bureau experts were today continuing their inspection of the aircraft that started yesterday.

Boeing and the US National Transportation Safety Board were also sending specialists to assist, but as it involved an Australian aircraft in international airspace the Australian Transport Safety Bureau is leading the investigation.

CASA said an exploding oxygen container was one possibility being examined by investigators.

“There are two cylinders located pretty much exactly where that hole appeared,” CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said today.

“We cannot just say that is the cause, but clearly the fact that two oxygen bottles are in that location, and clearly this was damage caused by some sort of outward pressure, obviously that means that is a key aspect of the investigation.

“It is emergency oxygen for the flight deck.

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On a recent trip to RSA I found this list of wireless hotspots invaluable as it meant I wasn’t hotel bound if I needed to do some work.

This list is not exhaustive as there are other wireless hotspots in restaurants, cafes etc. Hope it helps.

Courtyard Suites
Michelangelo Towers mall
Nelson Mandella Square
Sandton City Shopping Centre
Sandton Convention Centre
Village Walk Shopping Centre

On another one of my walks around Narita I was admiring the way so many Japanese houses are small yet elegant. The lack of land available to build upon is reflected in the design style.

In the west we build these massive houses that are so out of balance with the size of the land and the houses that surround it. As baby boomers become empty nesters it makes sense to downsize and use the extra money for travel or other lifestyle choices. When I look at Japanese architecture I think we could learn much, whether house or apartment - they are wired up and full of the technology to make life easier and more pleasant.

However - I think the house below may be taking it too far for the average baby boomer. This house measuring 4 by 5 metres, is wired up, has gas and water ….. a fully functional house. It even has its own vegetable patch!

Is this the worlds smallest house??

I took a few long walks around Narita and saw some beautifully designed small gardens. The care and effort put into these little plots is amazing. One local I spoke to said it took him 20 years to get the pine shown below to take its current form.

It is still a work in progress as you can see with the bamboo wired up to direct its shape.

A follow up to the carp article posted earlier…..

Have just had a very pleasant - but hot stay in Narita, Japan. Took time out to explore the grounds of Narita Temple. In the midst of the gardens I came across a few large ponds with some very hungry carp. The size of some of these carp were truly impressive.
carp-feeding